The head of Maine's embattled Riverview Psychiatric Center was fired Wednesday morning.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services confirmed to WMTW News 8 that Mary Louise McEwen is no longer in charge of the hospital. McEwen served as the superintendent of the hospital for about five years.

Related Content

In October the federal government yanked $20 million in funding from Riverview because federal officials say the hospital failed to comply with safety standards.

Helen Bailey, an attorney at the Disability Rights Center, said she’s met with McEwen in the past to advocate for the disabled and the staffers at Riverview.

“I think some patients have felt devalued and I think the staff have been demoralized,” Bailey said. She said she felt McEwen was reluctant to admit problems existed at the facility. “I thought, well, she’s not really getting it,” Bailey said.

DHHS would not get into any specifics regarding why McEwen was removed from her post.

In an emailed statement DHHS Commissioner Mary Mayhew wrote, “In evaluating where Riverview Psychiatric Center is today and our vision for the hospital moving forward, I felt that a change in leadership gave us the best opportunity to achieve that vision. I appreciate Ms. McEwen’s years of service and wish her success in future endeavors.” The statement continued, “RPC will continue moving forward its efforts to reinforce a patient-centered culture that is focused on recovery, while ensuring safety for clients, visitors and staff members.”

Legislators said they did not know why McEwan was fired. Democrats called it another example of failed leadership.

“Clearly this is not the end of the store with mismanagement,” Democratic House Speaker Mark Eves said. “There’s been still not accounting of a plan to put us back on track to make sure that we can get the $20 million back into the state.”

Republican Rep. Deb Sanderson said any fallout from the problems last year would have happened last year. “I have confidence that, if the pulling of funding were due to poor leadership at the facility, any dismissals or changes in leadership over at the hospital would have happened when the funding got pulled,” she said.

According to Riverview’s website, McEwen has worked in the mental health field for more than 23 years and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a master’s degree in business administration.

Her website biography also notes her recent retirement from the Maine Air National Guard after 28 years of service in the medical and human resources fields.

She was appointed to the top job at Riverview in 2009.

A spokesperson for DHHS said Mayhew is looking to name an acting superintendent next month. Until then, Riverview’s medical director is in charge.